18/09/2010 19:07

So you’ve decided you want to make a statement with your stairway and you realise stair carpet is the only way to do it. Well the question is, how do I measure up for the stairs and just what is available out there?

To measure the required length of a piece of stair carpet, firstly you need to measure the width of the step front to back (The bit you stand on) and this is normally around 9 inches(23cm). Then you need to measure the height of the riser (vertical bit you don’t stand on) and it is normally around 7 inches(18cm). You then add these 2 figures together, 16 inches(41cm) in this case and multiply it by the number of steps that you would like to carpet.

A typical staircase is 13 steps, so 13 x 16 = 208 inches plus and additional 9 inches for the top riser, which brings the total to 216 inches. There are 12 inches in a foot so 216 divided by 12 is 18ft. Most stair carpet is sold in metres so to convert to metres multiply 18 by 0.3048, which is 5.5metres. This would then be rounded up to allow a little extra for error.

There are also a couple of other things to consider. If your step has an overhang lip you need to add 3 inches per step to your measurement. If you are turning a corner with the carpet and need to cut it you will need to add 40 inches for a 90 degree turn and add 5 inches for every 10 degrees less (tighter turns require more carpet). If you are dealing with winding stairs you need to measure the widest part of the step and use this measurement.

You also need to decide what width of stair carpet you want. If you have a nice wooden floor you may want to keep the stair carpet runners narrower in order to show off your wooden floor. The standard widths available are 60cm(2ft), 67cm(2ft 3”), 70cm(2ft 4”), & 80cm(2ft 7”) and all of these sizes area available at The Rug House. This information is merely a guide and in no way can be assumed to apply to all staircases.

Take a moment to check out our rugs for sale and filter through our range to find your perfect rug. We have a collection of sizes, styles and colours for you to choose from ranging from coloured large rugs to small runner rugs

Take a moment to check out our rugs for sale and filter through our range to find your perfect rug. We have a collection of sizes, styles and colours for you to choose from ranging from coloured large rugs to small runner rugs.